Warning: AU, Fantasy, PG-13, Ran/Ken. :D
Disclaimer: Weiss belongs to Takehito Koyasu and Project Weiss.
First Born: Sacred Flame
Chapter Seven: A New Direction
Two days after the paille maille game everything seemed to have settled back into a routine. The weather remained fine, but there was little time spent out in it as Ran and Ken resumed their training schedule, and Omi and Yohji returned to the secret library. In the weeks since Sakura's arrival they'd spent a good deal of time there, but had discovered very little. Omi was starting to get more than a little frustrated.
"Why can't we find it?" he cried, slamming his hands down on the most recent useless volume. "The one book, the one that will tell us everything we need to know."
"Information obtained easily isn't always worth having," Yohji commented.
The Prince was taking a break and perusing the shelves. He'd developed the habit of stopping every two hours to rest his eyes, or so he claimed. Omi wondered if he wasn't just lazy or bored.
He sighed.
"I thought this room would be full of juicy secrets, but for the most part it's just full of old books," Yohji said.
"They need special care," Omi muttered. "That's why they're in here."
"Ha! Look at this."
The younger man turned in his chair to look at the small book the Prince had pulled off one of the shelves. The cover revealed it to be a book of fairy tales and legends for children. A common and popular title which had first been compiled and printed after the Great War in an effort to introduce the thirteen divergent kingdoms to one another. A small attempt at unifying them, but a somewhat successful one.
Omi turned back around and sighed again. Fairy tales weren't going to help them.
"Mother used to read this to us," the Prince continued, his voice accompanied by the sound of turning pages. "Hey, this is an original hand printed copy. Its got pictures!"
Omi's head dropped onto the open book before him with a long suffering groan.
A few minutes passed with only the sound of Yohji's page turning to mark them, then suddenly there was a pause and, "Hey, Omi."
The change in his friend's voice had the seer sitting back up and turning to face the Prince again. Yohji was looking thoughtfully at the book in his hands.
"Ever heard the legend of Terran the Life Bringer?" he asked.
Omi thought a moment.
"Isn't that the one where the prince uses his potential to save the world by refilling the protection magic housed in a special bowl?" the seer replied.
"Yes. 'Terran sent his spark to fill the empty vessel, thus refilling the bowl with magic and saving all things above and below the world'," Yohji read the description.
Omi sat up straighter.
"Wait a minute," he said. "I've heard that before."
"Everyone has, but doesn't it sound like..."
"No, no. The part about the empty vessel," Omi stated.
He shot to his feet and raced out of the secret library only to return moments later clutching a slender volume. Yohji was still standing where he had been, still holding the open book of legends.
"What's that?" he asked as Omi slapped the volume down on the table and began rifling through it. "Don't let a librarian see you doing that."
"This is the book the professors wrote after visiting the Sisters of the Sacred Flame," the young man explained without looking up. "Here. Listen. 'Although there are no empty vessels here at present the Mother Superior hopes one shall be arriving soon, as they are afraid to be without her since the failure of the last renewal'. Then there's a side note stating that an empty vessel is a nun with no magical potential."
Omi looked up and met the Prince's eyes.
"What if the legend's true? And some prince named Terran sent a spark to some nun who used it, not to refill a bowl of protection magic, but to renew the Sacred Flame," Yohji said, slowly approaching the table. "And from what you just read it sounds as if they have been expecting this renewal for some time."
"It says the last one failed," Omi said. "When do you suppose that was?"
Yohji pondered a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"What if...it moves in cycles?" he asked.
Omi frowned and shook his head to indicate his confusion.
Yohji sat down.
"Okay, say for a moment that it does," the Prince said. "Every so often the Sacred Flame dies and goes through some form of rebirth. If that's true then there should be some evidence of it somewhere."
"Alright," Omi agreed. "But that puts us right back where we were. Looking for the book that will tell us everything."
"Not necessarily," Yohji stated with a small smile. "There's more than one way to get the answer to almost any question. I feel like we have the pieces we need although we may not realize it."
"Oh, great," Omi said, slumping.
He met Yohji's grin with a defeated pout.
"What was the name of King Simon's mysterious twin you were reading about?" the Prince asked.
XXXXXXXXXX
The following morning Omi contemplated what they'd discovered, or believed they'd discovered, while he waited for Ken to join him for breakfast.
He and Yohji had scoured the library for references to King Simon, the man responsible for winning the Great War and uniting the kingdom. Or rather one of the two men responsible. King Simon had a twin brother named Taron, if you were looking at books inside the secret library. If you were looking without Taron didn't exist.
It would almost be laughable if the implications weren't so earth shaking.
That the First House had used the power of twins to win the war was almost inconceivable. The very House that had outlawed twins as First Born. Omi couldn't quite wrap his mind around it, and he'd decided that despite his resolve to leave well enough alone when he'd first discovered it, he'd decided to address the King. It was too important to him to just let the matter go.
As to the rest he wasn't sure what he thought. Yohji guessed that Taron, Simon's twin, and Terran of the legend were one and the same. Spelling differences aside the man had been a powerfully gifted healer according to what they could find. He had ridden into battle at his brother's side and then seen to warrior's injuries afterward, regardless of rank or allegiance, and that had done much to win over the other twelve Houses.
After the war Taron had quietly supported his brother while pursuing his own interests. He'd traveled the entire kingdom. Visited every House, and even many of the farthest boarder villages. Everywhere he went people adored and admired him despite the fact that he was one of the two men who'd conquered them. That such a unique and beloved individual could be so callously written out of history offended Omi to the very core of his being.
Taron had even visited the Temple of the Sisterhood of the Sacred Flame, the only member of the royal household ever to do so. Yohji claimed that coupled with the time the book of legends was written there was proof enough for them to start building on it. But Omi wasn't sure.
He knew as well as anyone that those stories had been collected from all over the new kingdom shortly after the Great War as a means of introducing the varying peoples to one another. But it seemed too far a leap to connect a legendary figure to a real man who'd done amazing things in his own right.
"Hey, Omi, what's up?"
The seer jumped then smiled sheepishly up at Ken. He'd forgotten he was waiting for the former servant.
"Sorry, I was distracted. Good morning," he said, grinning.
"Not by that Ambassador?" Ken asked, glancing quickly around the hallway.
"No. Not at all," Omi said. "Yohji thinks we've found our first clue to the Sacred Flame's renewal, but I'm not sure."
"Oh, yeah?" Ken asked as they fell into step together. "What did ya find? Anything Keiji can use?"
Omi chuckled.
"I wish," he smiled. "No, nothing so concrete as that. Just a beginning really, but Yohji's convinced we're onto something. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what more can be discovered."
"More research," Ken sighed tucking his hands behind his head. "Better you than me."
"So, how are things with you now that the courtship is over?" the seer asked.
"Well, I'm not allowed to eat with Ran."
"So you said. His Majesty must've thought that would be a fitting punishment," Omi remarked.
"Well, I guess it might be if I didn't see him every night," Ken shrugged. "I mean, meals here are long and besides them we only have our practices."
"So the time in the evenings makes up for it," Omi nodded.
"Yeah, and the nights," Ken said off handedly.
"The nights?" Omi asked curiously, feeling like he was missing something.
"Oh, I've been sleepin' with him. Like I did when I was injured," Ken replied with a happy grin.
Omi blinked up at him.
"Do you mind if I ask why?"
"Nightmares. I've been havin' them since Kase was here. But when I'm with Ran I don't have 'em," Ken answered.
"What sort of nightmares?" Omi asked, concerned. "Not too bad I hope."
Ken shook his head.
"I don't know," he shrugged. "I can't remember 'em, but I know that Ran thinks they're bad. Anyway, they're gone now that I'm with him all night."
Omi studied the carpet as they strolled along. Sleeping with Ran may stop them, but that wasn't a true answer to what was causing them or a permanent solution. But how to address that to Ken?
"Hey," Ken said, prodding the seer's head with his elbow.
"What?" Omi winced.
"He makes a pretty comfy pillow," Ken stated with a broad grin.
Omi's laughter echoed the length of the hallway, and his blush lasted until lunch time.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Okay, let's say you're right and Taron and Terran are the same person. Where do we go from here?" Omi asked once they'd settled in the secret library.
The Prince joined the seer at the table.
"Well, Taron was a healer and a Prince of the First House. I say we begin by going over other members of the royal family and see whether we can establish a pattern," he said.
"Alright. There's a good volume at the end of the first row of shelves," Omi said, rising to get it. "And it includes Taron, so it should be accurate."
"Excellent," Yohji said rubbing his hands together enthusiastically.
But by late afternoon his excitement had dwindled with his hopes. There didn't seem to be any patterns or correlations between the First House and the Sacred Flame, other than the possibility of Taron. After another fruitless chapter on another useless ancestor the Prince slammed the book shut in frustration and began pacing the room.
Omi watched him silently.
"Okay, I admit it, I was wrong," Yohji said at last, heaving a sigh. "It was pretty thin so I'm not surprised it didn't hold up to scrutiny."
Omi turned to look back at the book of legends which they'd left resting on the table. His brow wrinkled in thought.
"But...I hate to give up...what if Taron was Terran, but there's something we're just not seeing," he said softly.
"Like what?" Yohji asked, halting his pacing and turning to look at his friend.
"Okay, first and foremost Taron was a healer, which means he had creative magic. Secondly, he was a twin. Thirdly, he was from the First House," Omi said thoughtfully.
"Keiji is neither a healer nor a twin," Yohji muttered to himself.
"But Ken is," Omi added without thinking.
They looked at one another, realization striking them both at the same moment.
Omi reached for the book of legends.
"Weren't you saying a few weeks ago that the Seat magic of the Thirteenth House wanted twins to be born, but we didn't know why," the Prince said.
Omi nodded as he flipped through the book.
"'And the remainder of the magic called to the prince, begging for the bowl to be filled and the protection restored. And it sent warnings of the darkness that would fall in dreams and terrible nightmares which prompted him to act'," Omi read aloud. He faced Yohji. "Ken told me today he's been having nightmares."
"About the Flame?" the Prince asked anxiously.
Omi shook his head.
"He says he can't remember them," the seer stated.
Yohji licked his lips.
"So, it appears we may have a list of qualities...perhaps requirements," he said.
"Pretty short list," Omi countered.
"You're the one that wouldn't let it go," Yohji reminded him. "And they all fit Ken. I think we should return to your original investigation and see just how many incidents there have been of First Born twins where one of them was a powerful healer."
"But they're against the law," Omi pointed out. "They have been since the Great War."
"Actually, that's not quite true," Yohji said. "I spoke to my father about it last night. It seems that the law against twins was enacted five hundred years or so ago."
"Only five hundred?" Omi asked, blinking.
"Yes, there was a rather disturbing series of events involving the Second House," the Prince explained. "Histories printed since then have simply left out any mention either by accident or design. Probably the later, since helping people to forget something can be as simple as changing the recorded histories they read."
Omi scowled in distaste.
"So we're to study all histories from every House?" Omi asked sounding a little skeptical. "That'll take a bit of time. Especially if there is a pattern. I'm not even sure there are records from every House in here. Not from before the war anyway."
"Never fear, Omichi. We still have eight and a half weeks before the Solstice. Ten before we leave," Yohji said confidently.
"If the Flame lasts that long."
They looked at one another then stood and went to the catalogue.
XXXXXXXXXX
"And what did you have to eat?" Ran asked as he and Ken prepared for weapons practice. They were strapping leather guards onto their chests and arms.
"Some sorta bread with cheese melted on it and tomato slices in the cheese. Oh, and fruit on the side," Ken answered. "Was that satisfactory?"
"Very."
"Are you gonna ask me that everyday?"
"I want to make sure you're not eating, for lack of a better word, crap," Ran said, giving Ken a pointed look.
"Ursula's feedin' me, and she wouldn't feed me 'crap'," Ken replied.
"True. Are you ready?" Ran asked.
"More 'n ready," Ken smiled.
He turned and presented himself to his partner. On each hand he wore a glove with a metal contraption attached to the back. When he squeezed triggers hidden in each palm four wicked looking blades shot out of the metal cases on the backs.
He grinned.
"What are those?" Ran asked frowning at him.
"Like 'em? Michio gave them to me," Ken said taking a few practice swipes at the air.
Ran rolled his eyes.
"They're like my magic claws. The ones I used to get Kase," the former servant said happily.
"I remember. Are you sure they'll be a match for my sword?" Ran asked skeptically. "Do you even know how to use them?"
"Yes," Ken answered somewhat defensively. "Well, Michio has been teaching me. And I've been practicing on my own too."
"Alright. Show me," Ran smirked.
He'd moved to the center of the practice room and turned in the ready stance toward Ken.
The brunet grinned and launched himself almost joyfully at his partner. Ran had to stop himself from laughing at the younger man's expression as he stepped forward to meet him.
They clashed loudly. Steel on steel.
Initially Ran had no trouble blocking all of Ken's blows despite the fact that the former servant had two weapons to his one, but as the session wore on Ken tried wilder and more imaginative strikes. The Lord found his skill at reading another's moves was proving to be invaluable as it saved him once, then twice. Not only was he having to improvise to block Ken, but he found his own strikes were either blocked or evaded with far more ease than before.
And the amount of work they were putting into their efforts was more even.
It wasn't long before they were both sweating and panting. But neither one gave any thought to stopping as they canvassed the room searching for any weaknesses or openings.
They were in the middle of a fierce exchange of blows when there was a loud knock at the door, startling them both. Ken lowered his guard and Ran took full advantage knocking him to the floor where he pinned the former servant's arms.
"Hey! That wasn't fair!" Ken cried trying to pull his arms free. Ran had them trapped at Ken's sides with his knees.
The red-head grinned down at him.
"Everything's fair in battle," he said. "Never allow yourself to get distracted."
Ken sighed, then nodded grudgingly. Ran climbed off him and sat down on the floor.
"Come!" he called.
They were both surprised when Professor Stemp entered and stared at them disdainfully.
"You're over an hour late," he stated.
Ran and Ken blinked at him in shock.
"I think, in light of the hour and your current condition that we should call the lesson for today," their magic tutor declared. "But be prepared for tomorrow, gentlemen."
With that he turned and left closing the door behind him.
"We've been at this for three hours?" Ran asked in shock.
"What did he mean our 'current condition'?" Ken demanded.
The two looked at each other. Both were surprised to find that they were completely disheveled and sweat soaked. Both were red with exertion, breathing heavily, and their hair stuck out in all directions.
"You look terrible," they informed each other.
"Well, we'll need to bathe," Ran stated looking down at himself. "And we'll require fresh clothes."
"I guess I did pretty well, hunh?" Ken grinned, waving one of his claws.
"Hn. Better than I could've hoped," Ran stated. "I was so engrossed in trying to best you I lost track of the time."
"Yeah, me too," Ken laughed.
"I guess we've found your weapon of choice then. Next time I'll see how well you do when I'm armed with my sword and a knife."
"Sounds like a challenge," Ken grinned smugly. "I can't wait."
Ran blinked, then shook his head.
"Come on. Let's go," he smiled, struggling to his feet. His body suddenly felt rubbery and weak. "I have the sudden desire to be clean."
Ken snorted out a laugh and joined him, wincing as he did so.
"Do you feel as tired as I do?" he asked.
"Aa."
"After our bath how 'bout we sleep for a week?" Ken asked.
Ran merely nodded.
Together they hobbled out of the practice room and down the hall to the nearest lift.
XXXXXXXXXX
That evening in the royal drawing room everyone took up quiet pursuits as Ran and Ken dosed together on a settee, their heads resting gently one against the other. Every once in a while glances were directed their way and smiles were exchanged, or soft giggles heard. The later were shushed by the Queen.
"Look at the poor dears," she sighed, taking a peek over her shoulder at them. "Whatever did they do to tire themselves out so?"
"Seems they were in weapons practice for most of the afternoon," Keiji replied.
"Ken was going to try out the bugnuks I made him," Michio said. "I wanted to ask him how they worked."
"Rather well, if I'm any judge," the King commented. "I've never known Ran to nap after dinner."
"Perhaps we should wake them and send them to bed," Chiyo suggested.
"But we wanted Ken to play with us," Jomei cried from the floor where he and Kishi were coloring.
"Shh. Mind your voice, please," Queen Kimiko scolded.
"Ken is resting," the King stated. "And I dare say its time for you two to head off to bed."
"Awww," the two youngest royals whined.
"Shush. To bed. Now," the Queen tutted. She laid aside her needle work and motioned for them to get up. "I shall be back, my dear."
King Renjiro nodded then kissed each child on the cheek as they passed. The Queen followed them out.
"Aya, how is Lady Tomoe settling into her new role?" his Majesty asked with a fond smile.
"Fine. She seems quite content," the young woman answered.
"She's started making friends, and appears to be relieved that her courtship is over," Chiyo added. "She's much more relaxed now."
The eldest Princess noticed her friend's dark violet gaze slip back toward the sleeping pair across the room and she smiled.
"They do make a very sweet picture," Chiyo smirked, leaning into Aya's side.
Aya smiled as all eyes settled on her brother and Ken. The former wood boy mumbled something and turned to press his face into Ran's shoulder.
"Anymore 'signs', my dear?" the King asked Aya.
"Well," she said, considering. "They do seem to be more physical with one another."
Everyone leaned forward conspiratorially.
"How's that?" King Renjiro asked.
"They...touch more often. Lean on one another, grasp each others' arms, that sort of thing," Aya said.
"Oh," his Majesty nodded.
"I've noticed it as well," Keiji said. "But the overtures seem no more than friendly."
"Mmm," Aya nodded in agreement. "On Ken's part it isn't unusual, but for Ran it's..."
Just then the drawing room door was thrown open and Yohji strode in.
"Good evening," he called cheerily.
Everyone jumped. Including Ran and Ken who looked around the room a little bleary eyed.
"What's with you two?" the lanky Prince asked pausing by their settee.
They blinked up at him then at everyone across the room. Some were smiling openly while others attempted to hide their grins. Both sleepers blushed.
"Sorry. Must've dozed off," Ran mumbled, standing and straightening out his coat. "What time is it?"
"Eight-thirty, Niisan," Aya answered.
"I think I'll read some," he said, taking up his book from the settee and moving to a chair near a lamp.
Ken watched him, then stretched and yawned.
"We were at weapons practice for ever," he said, answering Yohji's question. "What about you?"
"I just dropped Omi at his room," the Prince said, flopping down in Ran's abandoned seat. "We were at the library until eight."
"Ah, Yohji. There you are, you naughty boy. Where have you been?" Queen Kimiko asked as she swept back into the room.
"The library," he repeated.
"Oh-ho! The gods bless Omi. He's straightening you out," his mother laughed. "Oh, our sleepers have awoken. How was your nap?"
Ran and Ken both mumbled something as the Queen resumed her seat.
"Has Omi found anything?" Keiji asked his brother.
"Possibly," was Yohji's vague response.
Both the King and Ken snorted.
"If that's your attitude you can do the research," the Prince said to the young man beside him.
"No thanks," Ken replied quickly.
"Hey, how did the bugnuks work?" Michio called to him.
"Great! He couldn't touch me!" Ken smiled.
"True, but you didn't 'touch' me either," Ran pointed out, glancing up from his book.
"An afternoon spent dueling and no hits on either side?" the King asked incredulously.
"Sounds like you two need to go up against different opponents," Keiji commented. "You're learning each others' moves."
Ran and Ken glanced at each other.
"I'd like to see a match and judge for myself," King Renjiro said.
"We're not practicing tomorrow, your Majesty," Ran said. "We missed Ken's magic lesson today and need to make it up. But the day after, if you are free, then you are welcome."
"I will be free, Ran my boy," the King smiled. "Count on it."
XXXXXXXXXX
Author's Note: There, some more clues and some Ran/Ken moments.
Thanks to Cat in the Web! I'm glad you felt bad for Sakura, that's exactly what I wanted! But the story of the Fourth House is gonna have to wait, I'm afraid.
Thanks to boXx! I'm glad you liked it! More Ran/Kenness to come!
Thanks to Angel! I'm glad you liked it! Yes, they are getting together, but slowly. Choosing to become Queen is a serious business and requires much reflection.
Thanks to Gillian Sillis! I guess everyone noticed that from the previous story. :) Ken is very determined and yes, childish. Ran wasn't sure Ken meant what Ran thought he meant. They're men.
